Nationally up to 40 attacks every week are being carried out against firefighters, the Fire Brigades Union (FBU) reported today.

FBU general secretary Andy Gilchrist warned it was only a question of time before a firefighter is killed as bricks, bottles and missiles are regularly thrown at crews, while fires have been set deliberately to lure firefighters into ambushes.

The union called for a national strategy to combat the increasing number of assaults on fire crews.

On Teesside, a number of measures have been introduced to combat the rise in attacks on firefighters.

Two years ago video cameras were fitted to appliances from Middlesbrough, Coulby Newham and Grangetown in a partnership initiative funded by Safe In Tees Valley.

In the first year of the scheme the number of attacks dropped by around 25pc - but one Teesside firefighter says violence is still common.

Telfer Whitfield, vice chairman of the Cleveland Fire Brigade union, said: "It has reduced a certain amount of attacks on the crews, but they are finding ways around it, such as hiding behind walls and in the undergrowth.

"The crews do feel a little safer with the cameras on board but that is not to say attacks don't happen frequently."

Mr Gilchrist said the number and ferocity of the attacks appeared to be getting worse.

He said: "A young boy in Scotland died in one attack and it is only a question of time before a firefighter is killed.

"These attacks are inexcusable and must not be tolerated. It can never be part of anyone's job to get a brick or bottle in the head, or to be spat at.

"There is no quick-fix solution but we need to start with a properly resourced national strategy rather than it being left to cash-strapped local fire services."

In England and Wales, in the nine-month period to the end of January 2005, 18 brigades reported a total of 393 attacks.